Rezoning for 1,000 homes in Lake Wylie gets final OK

Crescent Communities won’t immediately begin building, but the company says the residential developments will be worth the wait.

York County Council finalized rezoning for two properties at its June 2 meeting. One at 260 Bethel School Road includes more than 396 acres. The other, at 5488 and 5422 Hwy. 55 E., is 89 acres. Together the properties could add more than 1,000 new residences.

“That area of York County has a lot to offer,” said James Martin, company vice president.

Martin referred to the larger tract as Crowders Creek South and the smaller as 5 Points when outlining plans for Council. Following the meeting, he said final names will be chosen this summer as Crescent finalizes plans.

The rezonings allow fewer homes than the previous zoning. The larger tract would have allowed for up to 2,400 residences after a 2008 development agreement and 2010 amendment. The new limit is 650 single-family and 300 multi-family units.

Intact from the development agreement are 100-foot lake buffers, double the requirement, and 68 acres deeded to the county. Those acres include 50 where a Lake Wylie group wants a sports park, and 18 for utility and other easements.

The smaller property will have up to 180 units. Both developments must include amenities such as pools, clubhouses, playgrounds, sports courts, picnic areas, walking trails, community gardens or parks.

More decisions

Council also passed first reading on rezonings June 2 to create light industrial and commercial space in the Fort Mill area.

Stephen McCrae represented the developer of a 38-acre project near I-77. Lakemont Property Investors wants to rezone that portion of their 163 acres for light industrial use. The property sits across from Beacon Knoll, off Serendipity Lane.

McCrae said his group met multiple times with neighbors and property owners to discuss plans.

“They all concur that the best use of this property is light industrial, and not residential,” McCrae told Council.

The property is zoned for residential, but would require an extension of Serendipity to connect to Beacon Knoll. Converting to light industrial matches the property to what’s surrounding it, buffered to Beacon Knoll by trees and a creek.

Marilynn Martin, a past HOA president in Beacon Knoll, said not all residents are on board.

“It certainly wasn’t a unanimous thing,” Martin said.

She said the plan was different when she moved into her home.

“There was going to be a bridge that extended Serendipity, and all of that land would be part of our development,” Martin said. “This, to me, would detract from our home values.”

“All of them were in favor of it,” Johnson said. “I look forward to the next month to hear from other neighbors.”

Council also gave first reading to a rezoning at the Charlotte/Fort Mill KOA at 940 Gold Hill Road. There’s a campground and convenience store there now. The rezoning is for 1.25 of more than 33 acres, and would allow commercial use.

“The campground has been there since ’72, I bought it in ’86 and have been working on it ever since,” said owner John Trigg said. “The little store down there, since they put QT across the street, I’ve got to do something different there.”

Both the light industrial and commercial rezoning requests require two more readings to be finalized.